The still life maintains a place not just in painting but in photography as well. Today’s photographer, if alert, may find ready-made still life moments that say much about a locale and its people. For those who like urban photography, the city offers many opportunities for images that present themselves without the need for arrangement. Take this photograph, for example, made in Amsterdam.

Dutch still life paintings often contained insects or examples of rotting fruit to show the passage of time and the inevitability of death and decay. Since I used an example from Amsterdam, I felt the image was interesting as a modern take on a 17th century exercise. This image is something analogous to decaying Dutch flowers—the trash that was the result of an enjoyable moment in the present. It is the same message of the inevitable decay of life.

I believe that the more one knows about art, the more creative a photographer might be. My studies of art have enabled me to see patterns and understand composition better. Perhaps the same is true for other photographers.

The following photo was made in Zagreb. Here I cropped it to even out what was seen of the chairs, to serve as a frame. This received a purchase award in a county competition for photography.

Keep in mind that there is nothing wrong with photographing your own empty bottles and cups; they can also provide a foreground image for a broader shot.

The key to an image like this is tight cropping. On occasion, you might want to rearrange a bottle, perhaps to show the label, but otherwise it is surprising how often still life photographic opportunities present themselves. For those of you who never considered the merits of an image like this, think of it as part of a long tradition.

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Steven Richman is an attorney practicing in New Jersey. He has lectured before photography clubs on various topics, including the legal rights of photographers. His photography has been exhibited in museums, is in private collections, and is also represented in the permanent collection of the New Jersey State Museum. ​